HENRIETTA – State Sen. Pat Fallon said Saturday that he backs a plan to cut local school taxes that could save the average homeowner about $1,400 a year while taxing gasoline, junk food and other items.

Fallon of Senate District 30 said the proposal from state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, is in essence a tax swap, trading property taxes for other revenue sources.

Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

Clay County Judge Timothy Collins talks with Texas Senator Pat Fallon during Fallon's town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. The town hall was the first of two in the area. The second was held in Bowie at The Rack. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta. Lauren Roberts/Times Record News

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“So you win in one area, you’re going to lose somewhere else. But it’s going to share the burden,” Fallon, R-Prosper, said.

The senator spoke at the Clay County Annex Saturday afternoon before an audience of about 30 who braved the chilly weather to attend. He spent several minutes on property tax relief – one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities for the 86th Legislature.

Fallon said the vast majority of funding for schools comes from property taxes.

“The folks that don’t own a home or live in a little trailer or where there’s eight people in an apartment, they’re getting pretty much a free ride,” he said.

Springer’s strategy calls for doing away with some state sales tax exemptions to give homeowners a break on school property taxes.

Fallon said the bill would bring a 6.25 percent tax on gasoline, as well as other measures to share the burden.

“It would cost the average driver about $85 a year,” he said. “Junk food would be subject to tax.”

Fallon added, “So if you buy green beans, no tax. If you want a doughnut -- 6.25. You get soup. You’re good. You get Doritos -- 6.25.”

Fallon said Springer has been bold enough to talk specifics about his proposition.

The senator was planning to meet Springer at a second town hall in Bowie on Saturday afternoon. Springer’s district includes Montague, Wilbarger, Young and other counties.

His proposal has been gaining momentum although he hasn’t filed the legislation yet.

Texas Tribune columnist Ross Ramsey called it the “first serious stab” at a cut for property owners this legislative session.

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Texas Senator Pat Fallon gives a speech and an update on the 86th Texas Legislative Session during his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta.(Photo: Lauren Roberts/Times Record News)

Fallon has been busy this legislative session.

Fallon has filed or will file 70 bills and expects to pick up 20 to 30 more from legislation approved in the House and in need of a sponsor.

His bills include measures prohibiting in-state tuition for illegal immigrants at public colleges and junior colleges; giving a cost-of-living raise for certain retired teachers; and creating some prohibitions on name changes for school districts and campuses and on using public funds to remove, relocate or alter a monument or memorial.

Having served as a local elected representative, Fallon noted that he supports Abbott’s call to end unfunded mandates visited on cities and counties.

Clay County Judge Mike Campbell said unfunded mandates account for nearly 22 percent of the county’s approximately $4.3 million budget.

Clay County Sheriff Kenny Lemons said the county is forced to pick up the tab for prisoners jailed because of parole violations typically involving paperwork or a missed date with an official.

The tab was $36,000 tab last year, he said.

Unlike others accused of crimes, those prisoners are not allowed to get out of jail on bond, Lemons said. One man accused of a parole violation this year has already cost the county $6,000.

At the beginning of the town hall, Fallon was enthusiastic about his new post in the upper chamber of the Legislature.

“I absolutely love it,” he said. “There is an extraordinary demand on our time, but it’s absolutely awesome.”

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Texas Senator Pat Fallon takes a picture with constituents after his town hall Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Clay County Courthouse Annex in Henrietta.(Photo: Lauren Roberts/Times Record News)

He toppled former Sen. Craig Estes in the March 6 Republican Primary. He faced an easily surmounted challenge from Kevin Lopez of Bridgeport in the Nov. 6 General Election.

Before assuming the SD 30 seat, Fallon represented House District 106.